Chapter 10 Ancient playboys, how did they have such a wild time?
Standing to the side, Xiao Jingxuan was amused by her undisguised craving.
Just as my sister said, she's a complete foodie!
"Come on, little follower, I'll show you the world!"
Xiao Jingxuan waved his hand generously, "Tell me what you want to eat, it's on me!"
Su Xiaoyu could hardly believe her ears. She looked up at Xiao Jingxuan, her eyes filled with doubt and a hint of longing.
"Really? Second Young Master?" She unconsciously swallowed.
"Nonsense! A word spoken by this young master is as good as his bond!"
As he spoke, he walked up to a stall selling fried dough cakes, bought two hot, golden-brown cakes, and handed one to her.
"Here, have something to eat first."
Holding the fragrant ghee cake, Su Xiaoyu felt like she was dreaming.
She took a careful bite; the outer layer was crispy, the inside was soft, and the filling was generous, leaving a lingering fragrance in her mouth.
It's absolutely delicious!
She squinted her eyes happily.
This was her first time visiting this ancient market since transmigrating into the book. All the food here was organic and pollution-free, unlike modern pre-cooked dishes or various bizarre cuisines, which were a mix of technology and ruthless methods.
Xiao Jingxuan took her from one end of the street to the other, and seeing that Su Xiaoyu was eating to her heart's content, he felt that their relationship had grown close enough, so he began his "test".
He led her into a relatively quiet street with more refined shops.
"Come on, I'll take you to a nice place."
As Xiao Jingxuan spoke, he walked into a shop selling rouge and face powder.
The shop was filled with a rich aroma and displayed various exquisite porcelain boxes and glass bottles.
This was Su Xiaoyu's first time in such a place, so she couldn't help but feel a little reserved, her eyes darting curiously over the dazzling array of items.
So this is what a high-end cosmetics store looked like in ancient times! The packaging is so beautiful!
But why did Xiao Jingxuan bring her here?
Is he going to pick out a gift for his favorite female lead?
Xiao Jingxuan observed her reaction out of the corner of his eye and saw that she only showed curiosity and unease, without the excitement and eagerness that a typical woman would have. He then began to have some thoughts about her.
He casually picked up a box of rouge, opened it, and asked Su Xiaoyu, "Hey, Xiaoyu, what do you think of this color? Does it suit me?"
Su Xiaoyu glanced at the bright red ointment, and her lips twitched violently.
Second Young Master, do you have some misunderstanding about your own gender?
But he honestly replied, "Second Young Master, is this something for a young lady's use?"
"Oh? Is that so?" Xiao Jingxuan pretended to just realize what was happening, then picked up a box of lip rouge and offered it to him.
"So, do you like this color? If you do, I'll give you a box."
If a woman is eager to curry favor with her master, she will most likely accept such a hint with a mixture of shyness and timidity.
To everyone's surprise, Su Xiaoyu shook her head vigorously, like a rattle drum.
"No need, Second Young Master. I work all day and have no use for this. It's such a waste!"
Sending me this is less practical than giving me two roast chickens. This stuff is inedible and requires careful storage; it's such a hassle.
Xiao Jingxuan: ...
This reaction was a little different from what he had imagined.
Undeterred, he took Su Xiaoyu to jewelry and silk shops. He picked up exquisite hairpins and fine fabrics, saying they were gifts for Su Xiaoyu.
"This hairpin suits you very well; it's perfect for a young lady like you. Shall I give it to you?"
"And this moonlight yarn is perfect for making into a dress. You'll look beautiful in it."
Su Xiaoyu was so startled that she jumped back and almost bumped into the shelf.
"Second Young Master, you mustn't. This servant is of lowly status and cannot wear this."
Besides, the maids had their hair styled in a bun, so they couldn't wear it.
As for this material, it's definitely not something someone of her status could wear.
Su Xiaoyu refused without hesitation or even a second thought.
Xiao Jingxuan was speechless at her avoidance.
It must be that girl Lingxi talking nonsense.
This Su Xiaoyu is clearly a clueless girl; her brain probably has nothing on it except for food.
Where is there even a hint of scheming?
He found the experiment utterly uninteresting and was about to head home when he suddenly heard two familiar shouts behind him:
"Hey! Isn't this Xiao Er? When did you get back? You didn't even tell us."
"That's right, hiding here with his mistress picking out jewelry. He has good taste, this young man is quite fair-skinned!"
Two young men dressed in brocade robes and waving folding fans walked over with smiles on their faces, their attitude very enthusiastic.
These were the same cronies who used to hang out with Xiao Jingxuan.
One of them was named Zhao Rui, the second son of the Vice Minister of Rites.
There was also a man named Sun Wei, the third son of the Marquis of Anyuan.
Xiao Jingxuan rolled his eyes at the two of them, annoyed. "Go away, what nonsense are you talking about? This is... my new little follower! Don't you dare make a move on her."
He looked the two people in front of him up and down. "What are you doing here?"
Zhao Rui leaned closer, winked and lowered his voice: "My father went to the yamen to report for duty, and my mother went to the temple outside the city to burn incense early this morning. I'm the only one left in the mansion. If I don't slip away now, when will I?"
His tone was full of smugness, like "when the cat's away, the mice will play."
Sun Wei also snapped his folding fan shut and tapped it in his palm.
"I had a bad day yesterday and lost fifty taels at 'Qianjintai'. My dad nagged me all night. Today I'm going to 'Ruyifang' to have some fun and get rid of the bad luck."
He kept talking about gambling dens and brothels, clearly a regular there.
Upon hearing "Ruyi Fang," Zhao Rui's eyes lit up, and he nudged Xiao Jingxuan with his elbow. "Right, right! Xiao Er, I heard that Ruyi Fang has a new batch of young ladies who are top-notch in both looks and figure. How about we go and give them a try?"
Ruyi Fang was a brothel, a place they used to frequent. But right now, Su Xiaoyu was still by their side.
When Xiao Jingxuan heard his friend mention 'Ruyi Fang', his heart skipped a beat.
He glanced at Su Xiaoyu subconsciously and found the girl blinking her big eyes, looking confused and ignorant, as if asking, "What is Ruyi Fang? Does it sell delicious food?"
Oh no! If Su Xiaoyu finds out he went to a place like that, she might accidentally let it slip to his older brother...
Xiao Jingxuan instantly felt a chill run down his spine!
"Nonsense!"
Xiao Jingxuan straightened his back, his face displaying an upright and righteous expression, and firmly refused:
"Is that the kind of place we should go? It's immoral and disreputable. How could I, Xiao Jingxuan, be such a dissolute playboy who indulges in sensual pleasures?"
Zhao Rui and Sun Wei were completely taken aback by his sudden display of "righteousness".
The two looked at each other, and the next second, they both burst into exaggerated laughter.
"Hahaha! Xiao Er, what are you pretending to be, acting all high and mighty?"
"Who was it that almost got into a fight with the young master of the Imperial Censor Liu's family at the 'Hundred Flowers Pavilion' last month, vying for the top courtesan position?"
Sun Wei added fuel to the fire: "Exactly! Back then, who was it that shamelessly blocked the door of Xiao Taohong's room just to see her? Oh! Where did that heroic spirit go?"
Xiao Jingxuan's face instantly turned red, and he wished he could cover the mouths of these two!
He looked at Xiaoyu in a panic, and sure enough, he saw her mouth slightly open in surprise, her eyes filled with shock that said, "So this is what you, Second Young Master, are like."
In fact, Su Xiaoyu's values were indeed impacted.
She originally thought that Xiao Jingxuan, being the second young master of the Marquis's mansion, wouldn't go too far, but she was wrong!
These ancient playboys really had it this way!
"Xiaoyu, don't listen to their nonsense!" he explained to Su Xiaoyu.
"They're just jealous of my handsome, dashing, and charming appearance, and how popular I am with girls, that's why they're making up stories about me."
Turning his head, Xiao Jingxuan glared fiercely at Sun Wei, forcefully interrupting the two:
"Why go to Ruyi Fang? You're so spineless! You only lost fifty taels of silver at Qianjintai? Wait here, I'll go to Qianjintai right now and win it all back for you, with interest!"
In reality, he was secretly calculating his own plans:
Going to a gambling den, while not ideal, sounds more respectable than taking a maid to a brothel!
Moreover, it's a perfect opportunity for Su Xiaoyu to witness my impressive prowess in the casino, showcasing my wisdom and courage!
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